Well bridging



Dern 24, 1940.

` WELLl BRIDGING,

M. W. CARROLL CEMENTING, WHIPSTOCK, vAND MILLING APPARATUS Original Filed March 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Saumur M. w. cARRoLL Re. 21,668

WELL BRIDGING, CEMENTING, WHIPSTOCK, AND MILLING APPARATUS yDec. 24, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/vwo@ A Original Filed March 28, 1936 e" Farra/.

Dec. 24, 1940.

M. w. CARROLL l WELL BRIDGING, CEMENTING, WHIPSTOCK, AND MILLING APPARATUS original Filed March 2a, 193e 5 sheets-,sheet 3 ATTORNEYS R. m OO m V m Monroe MCarro/ /DM v wzf (i. UM@

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Dec. 24, 1940. M. w. CARROLL WELL BRIDGING, CEMENTING, WHIPSTOCK, AND MILLING APPARATUS 5 heets-Sheet 4 original Filed March 28, 1956 .Il llllln====-====== ATTORNEY uw "d /gmvl w ....\......-........`l`.`\"`...-.`.`..`..-h1-----n li) 5 Sheets-Sheei 5 lle, V 3

Monroe W Carro/ M. W. CARROLL Original Filed March 28, 1936 WELL BRIDGING, CEMENTING, WHIPSTOCK, AND MILLING APPRATUS' De;-n 24, 1940.

Reissued Dec. 24, 1940 UNITI-:D` STATES PATENT OFFICE .Monroe W. Carroll, Beaumont, Ten. assignor to Sperry-Sun Well Surveying Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,100,684, dated November 30, 1937,

Serial No. 71,474, March 28. 1936.

Application for reissue Marel! 4, 1839, Serial No. 259,895

- 12 Claims.

My invention relates to various operations in the drilling of deep wells including milling through casing, cementing and setting supports in the well bore. l

In the drilling of deep wells for oil, gas, sulphur, water and the like it is not uncommon to pierce a stratum of producing material but on account of poor showing therein the drilling its continued down 'past the stratum having the showing o f oil or gas therein. It is not unusual to iind several diierent strata of formation all ot which will produce some amount of the desired iluid. When it later becomes desirable to cement above and below each of the producing strata it is dlfcult or impossible to do so with accuracy on account of the limitations in the present equipment.

It is an object of my invention to provide means whereby a plug or bridge o! cement or other material may be located at the desired level in the well so that'a bridge may be formed at that point.

I desire to provide a support which, when discharged from the operating pipe, will automatically engage with the walls oi the well and form a support.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby a charge oi cement may belowered inthe well to the desired level and then released.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a cement discharging device means which may be automatically released in response to iluid pressure in the well. i

'Another object o! the invention is lto provide a supporting valve or plate which may be rendered ineii'ective to support the cement at any desired point in the well. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a cement container attached to a cable which when f lowered to the'bottom of the well, will be 'automatically unloaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a whipstock, having cement within its body. and supporting dogs attached to the lower end to engage pipe coupling at the point desired to act in side tracking operations to deflect the cutter to mill through casing. v-

Another object of the invention ls to provide a feeding mechanism for the drilling string adapted to be attached to draw works or cable, to control the downward movement of the milling tool, at the lower end of said string.

I desire to control the speed of lowering the l milling tool so that an accurate uniform rate ofv movement can be mechanically maintained.

Referring to the drawings herewith. Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a portion oi the operating pipe showing the construction oi my support.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the support 5 when dischargedi'rom its position in the pipe.

Figure 3 is a lbroken side view partly in section showing my automatically releasing support for cement.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the plane 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken side vlw partly in section showing the apparatus' disclosed in Fig. 3 with the valve in open position.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionshowing the lower end oi a well with my support therein and the valve discharging mechanism in position above the same. f

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of aform of cement bucket lled with cement.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the cement dumped. y l Y Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the plane I-l oi Fig. '1.

Fig. l0 is a central longitudinal section through a whipstock.

Fig. il is a plan VView of an impeller wheel which I use.

Figs. 12 and I13 are transverse sections on the plane I2|2 and lB-IS, respectively, of Fig. 10. 30`

`Flg.l4 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 10 but showing the whipstock anchored in position. v

Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the plane ls-II of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a broken diagrammatic view showing my drill stem feed control.

Fig. i7 is a longitudinal jointed milling tool.

'Flg. 1B is a plan view of a star wheel.

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section of a well showlng the use of my milling tool.

In placing a support for cement andthe like at a desired level in the well I employ, an apparatus similar to that disclosed in Figs. l and 2. In this device I secure at thelower end oi' the operating pipe or liner ifa section of pipe I which forms a temporary housing for my supporting piston 3. The pipe or housing 2 is preferably formed with a set shoe 4 at the lower end. At -50 its upper end and between the same and the lower section of the pipe I I place a partition or diaphragm I formed with openings 5 therethrough normally closed by a back pressure valve l mounted upon a stem 'l and held normally in 55 section through my where they will support the `tion in the well the closed position by a spring I. vI'his is a common type of back pressure valve.

The supporting piston 3 within the lower section of the pipe is preferably formed of cupshape. the lower end being open and the upper end being closed by a wall l of metal. 0n the sides of the piston and preferably countersunk therein are a plurality of. spring arms il which project well below the lower end of the piston and are sharpened ofi' to'a point il. These spring arms are normally curved so that they will project strongly outwardly away from the body of the piston. 'I'he arms may be securedto the piston by bolts or rivets l2 and when the piston with the arms therein is housed within the lower section 2 oi the pipe the arms engage irictionaily against the inner wall of the pipe but are slidable downwardly therein.

This piston is intended to support a load of cementitious material shown at I3 and I prefer to place a layer of fabric such as canvas or burlap il thereon. As seen in Fig. l, this fabric forms a container for the cement assisting in preventing the cement, which is in fluid form, from owing outwardly past the piston.

When it is desired to set a bridge at Buy Dosipipe is lowered until the lower end thereof is adjacent the point where the well is to be closed across by the bridge. This may be in an open hole or may be, as is seen in Fig. 2, adjacent the bottom thereof. or it may be even in a section oi casing already set. If in an open hole the tluid pressure is3 exerted downwardly through the pipe i and past the back pressure valve upon thecement and enough force will be exerted to force the piston out the lower end oi' the pipe so. that the spring arms l I may be forced outwardly to engagement with the formation piston in that position. 'Ihe cement will flatten out so that the walls of canvas support will engage the sides of the hole and Vsupport the cement, as shown in Fig. 2, where it may be allowed to harden.

It will be understood that if the piston is discharged into a section of casing the lower ends of the spring arms 'il will engage between the ends of the adjacent pipe sections and support the apparatus I am enabled to form a at any desired level in the well, as will be obvious. In order that this support may be employed in connection with cementing above the plug or bridge to'any desired level I desire to employ my' apparatus shown in Fiss. 3 to 6 inclusive to lower a larger body of cement to a position above the bridge and discharge this larger body of cement above the bridge so as to completely close bridge or stop the well below or above the lower end of the pipeor liner, as is customary in cementing wells. My cement is placed within ythe pipe l atthe lower end and in place of the section 2 of the pipe shown in Fig. 1 I may place a diiierent section of pipe shown at, Il. This pipe has opposite longitudinal Openings I8 therein through whichcap screws or bolts il are adapted to extend and to be allowed a limited longitudinal movement therein.

In the operation of this device the assembly at.' closed as seen in the lower endet the pipe will be Flg.3andthelockingbolt22willbebeldclosed against the action of the spring 2l by means of the set screw 2|'. The pipe will with cement. shown at 22. to the desired height, said cement bearing upon the plate i9 with sum# cient weight or force to frictionally force the bolt 22 against the wall of the opening 2l and thus then be nued piston in position in the Ci-118- With this tend to hold it in locked position. 'l The screw 28 may then be removed and the device lowered intov against the plate I9. This pressure will be raised to a suillcient value `to counteract the load of cement I2 and allow the spring 25 to act upon the boit 22 and remove it from locked position. The pressure of the iluid in the well against the bottom of the plate i9 will move housing il vslightly upward against the flexible rihg I0 sufficient to allow the ready removal of the locking bolt. This upward movement of the housing i8 is accommodated by the movement of the screws Il in slot II in an obvious manner.

'Ihe lowering of cement continues until the place for dumping the cement is reached, then the iiuid pump is started to force the cement out of the container as seen in Fig. 5.v

The screws il are set in the wall of a nipple or sleeve Il tting closely within the pipe i5 and extending somewhat below the screws I1 and normally closed at its lower end by a valvefor plate i9. Said plate is hinged to a lower inclined wall 2l of the nipple or sleeve i8 by means of a pivot pin 2|. Said plate is adapted to close the lower end of the housing and is held in closed position by a locking bolt 22. Said bolt is slidable through a downwardly projecting lug 23 in the plate and when in locking position projects outwardly through i5. 'I'his bolt is acted lupon by a spiral tension spring 25 secured at its outer end to a lug 2| on the plate and exerting a pull upon the locking bolt 22 tending to remove it from its locking position engaging within the wall-cf the pipe I5.

' On the lower side of the lug 22 through which the bolt projects I form an opening 2l through which a set `screw 2 8 may.be secured to engage through or against the locking bolt 22 and hold it in locked position.

Above the housing sleeve IB is a second short section of pipe Il by a ring of soft material vall such as rubber adapted to be longitudinally compressed by the upward movement of the sleeve IB. Above the ksection of pipe 2l is a bond of welding material Il securing the said section 29 rigidly in position.

When this plate has thus dropped to open position the cement within the pipe I will be discharged downwardly into the \hole above the Y bridge Il formed as previously described.

It will thus be seen a bridge in position at any desired' level in the well whether the well has been cased Vor not and when this bridge has been allowed to harden -any desired amount of cement may be discharged into the hole above the bridge. My automatically releasing device which I have described enables the the sleeve or 29 separated from the lower sleeve that I can accurately place cement to be lowered tothe desired level and @5 there discharged. It will lill the lower end of the hole above the bridge which has been set and perform the cementing operation in the usual tion I provide a `lindx'ical bucket. member 3l,

by those skilled in the art.'

ames y 3.

the lower end of which has an upwardly tapered seat 31 thereon. The bucket is connected with an upwardly tapered nipple at 38. The upper end oi' the nipple has a threaded engagement with 6 a plug 40 whose upper end is reduced in diameter and extended upwardly at 4I and has a head 42 thereon for engagement with a grapple or iishing tool.

The plug 40 and the upward extension therei8 on has an axial passage to receive 'a valve control rod 43. The rod extends downwardly through the bucket and has at its lower end a valve or closure 44, the upper face oi' which is tapered at 45 to engage the seat 31. The rod 43 extends l above the bucket and the head 42 and has at its upper end a squared head 48 to engage within a recess 41 in a lowering device 48.

Said device 48 is secured at the lower end of the cable 49 by means of which the device is lowered into the well. The recess 41 extends downwardly into the body of the device and limits the downward movement of the rod relative thereto. In the lower end of the lowering device 1s a chamber 50 with downwardly sloping sides to receive the slips 5I.

The lower end of the chamber is closed by a cap 52 having an opening 53 therein large enoughto allow the passage therethrough of the head 42 on the bucket extension. Each of the slips 5| has an outwardly extending screw or bolt 54 thereon to slide within a longitudinal slot 551D a side wall of' the chamber 58.

When this device is assembled for introducing the cement into the well, the rod 48 is pulled upwardly to place the valve 44 in closed position. The bucket is then lled with cement andthe upper nipple 38 secured in position thereon with the rod 43 extending upwardly as shown in Fig. l. The head of the rod is engaged within the recess 41 in the lowering device.

The device is then lowered into the well until the bridge 34 or other support is reached thus stopping the downward descent of the bucket. The further lowering of the cable will allow the 45 member 48 to drop downward over the head A42 on the upper end of the bucket. 'Ihe said head will move the slips upwardly in the chamber 58 until the head has passed into the chamber above the slips. The slips will then drop down into the position shown in Fig.` 8, engaging below the head 42. The lowering device will then be pulled upwardly to engage the head 42 and pull the bucket upwardly relative to the valve, moving the bucket into the position shown in Fig. 8, allowing the cement to be discharged outwardly into the well.

The bucket may then be drawn upwardly allowing the cement toriow` downwardly into the well above the bridge and may be removed from the well leaving the cement in position. 00 In operations of this character it may be found necessary to sidetrack an opening through the casing and into the formation at the side of the f hole. In Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive, I have shown how the whipstock may be set in position in the G5 manner similar to that Just described. In Figs.

curved and beveled at ll'l to conform to the inner` surface of the well casing 88. 'Ihe lower end of the whipstock has a cylindrical body member 80',

which is hollowed out to form a chamber 8l in which cement may be placed. At the lower end of the chamber above the head are lateral openings 82 through which the cement may be discharged, and above and below these lateral open- 5 ings are packing rings 83 and 84 which are adapted to engage with the inner wall of a housing 85 shownin Fig. 10.

The housing 65 is a cylindrical section of pipe,

vthe upper end of which is engaged with a coupling 10 86 which is in turn connected by swaged nipple 81. Within the coupling member 88 is a transverse partition across the housing which 'has two longitudinal fluid passages 68 and 89 therethrough, one at each side thereof and there is l5 also a longitudinal opening 1li through which a threaded stem 1I may pass.

'I'he stem 1I extends upwardly through the partition and has an unthreaded portion 12 adjacent the upper end and lock nuts 13 are screwed 20 on this reduced portion of the rod. Threaded onto the rod adjacent the partition is a nut 14 which is adapted to be rotated while the device is in the well by radial impeller blades 15 shown best in Fig. ll. The lower end of the nut rests upon 25 an anti-friction bearing race 16 on the upper end of the partition within the coupling 68. The nut is held rotatably in position adjacent the partition by an upper plate 11 secured upon the coupling 86 by means of the nipple 61. By this con- 30 struction the rotation of the nut 11 through the circulation of liquid past the impeller blades will move the threaded rod vertically in the housing.

The lower end of the stem 1I is curved downward through an opening 18 in the deecting part 35 56 of the whipstock. At its lower end the rod is formed with a hook 18 which engages with the upper end of a spring arm 8|), which is secured at 59 to the side wall of the cement chamber 6I.

On the inner wall of the housing 85 an arm 8i 40 is extended inwardly and formed with an eyelet to connect with a. cord or chain 82 to which it attached a tapered plug 83.y Said plug is set within a tapered opening in the upper wall of the cement chamber 6i and is employed as will be later noted 45 in removing the plug when the cement is to be discharged.

On the side wall of the cement chamber 8i exterior thereto is a spring arm 84 which is secured within a recess in the outer periphery of the ce- 50 ment chamber by rivets 85, or otherwise, said spring bearing against the side wall of the housing in such manner as to tend to move the same away from vthat -wall adjacent thereto and thus f act to hold theupper end 51 against the wall of 55 which are housed a plurality of arcuate dogs 88 shown best in Fig. 13. These dogs are held resiliently outward by spring 89 housed within the dogs and bearing against the interior wall of `70 the groove infvwhichthey-nt. These dogs tend to i'orm supports for the cement as will be later noted. ,Y

At the lower end of the head of the whipstock is an upwardly extending recess 90 across which is 75 an opening 00 through the opposed dog 92 and has a notch cut in its free end to engage over a shoulder 01 on the dog 92. This latch is held resiliently downward by a spring 0 0 in the dog 03. Both these'dogs are pivotally supported on the shaft 0| and are normally compressed within the housing 05. i

When this device is to be lowered and anchored in the well it is assembled with the cement inposition as shown in Fig. l0 and the housing with the 2 device therein is lowered to the position approximately where the device is to bey anchored. yWhen in this position, a ball 0l isdropped downwardly into the position shown within the channel 60 through the coupling 00. When in this position the passage oi' ushing iluid through this opening will be prevented and the pumps will be started to cause a circulation of liquid through the device. The liquid will pass into the channel 00 but as it cannot pass therethrough it will be deflected laterally to the channel 09 and will be dischargedtherefrom with some force. The rapid ow of the uid under pressure will rotate the impeller 15 and thus cause the rotation of the nut as 14 and screw the shaft 1| downwardly therethrough. The fluid passing the pump will ilnd an exit through lateral openings |00 in the side wall of the housing. When the rod 1| has been moved downwardly until lock nuts 13 rest on nut 14 the whipstock 00 will have been lowered in the 4 housing sumciently to permit the dogs 02 and 93 t to be out of the housing and to contact with the casing wall. 'I'hen the apparatus is lowered in the well casing until the dogs 02' and 00 contact the casing coupling as shown at |0| in Fig. 14. Then the housing 05 is lowered a sumcient distance so that the spring arm 00 will be released from the hook 1l and will automatically snap back against the wall of the whipstock as shown ,in'Fig. 14,. This will release the whipstock so that it may be moved downwardly by the fluid pressureand it will be forced downwardly through the housing and extend below the same. When thisis done the latching dogs 02 and 03 at the lowerend. thereof will be moved laterally to engage in recesses between the ends of the pipe at a coupling such as lll'in Fig. 1'4.

The housing may then be pulled upwardly away from the whipstock and when this is Adone the so plug Il at the upper end of the cement chamber l will be removed from its position. The whipstock will then besupported in the well approximately as shown ln Fig. 14. The removal of the device from the housing will allow the packer-11 to ex-v 55 pand and seal against the inner wall of the casing Il.' 'Ihe circulation 'of uuid will allow the water to enter through the opening previously lled bythe plug 00 and wet the cement and allow it to circulate outwardly through the openings 02. This cementvwill till the space around the whipstock and above the packer as indicated in the drawings and when the cement is set the device will beilrmlyichored in position held partly by the latching dogs 02 and Il and partly by u the setting of the cement around the same and within the walls of the casing. The device will then be ready for side tracking operations.

In Figs. l1'1 and 19 is shown a milling tool which I contemplate employing for such operations. The milling tool |00 is a cylindrical head having milling teeth |00 vat the lower end and a central uid passage |05 axially through the same. This head has an upper threaded socket in which is engaged a drill collar including two ilexibly connected members I06'and |01. This connection is l0 formed by an ordinary type of universal joint including a ring |00 secured pivotally at |09 to the upper end of a member |06. The member |01 has two downwardly extending arms pivoted at ||0 to the ring |08. This is a type of gimbal join 15 which is well understood.

Within the exible joint the fluid passage is slightly enlarged and the collar |I| is set therein. This collar may be of rubber and is intended to prevent some of the leakage of fluid which would 20 otherwise occur, it being necessary to carry some of the ushing fluid directlythrough the blt. Part of the uid, however, will escape around the joint into the well.

1n Fig. 19 it lwin be noted that when this device 25 is used the flexible joint by means of which the milling cutter |00 is secured to the drill stein |I2 allows the blt to be diverted by the whipstock l I3 so as to more readily cut a window ||4 in the side weil er the easing. This window win be sumeient 30 to direct a milling cutter df ordinary construction through the wall of the ng and will avoid the difficulty which is now generally experienced in getting a drill started through the casing in the manner desired. This type of -cutter is specially 3 adapted for the cutting of the lcasing in the manner noted. Y

When the milling cutter is moved downwardly ln this manner to cut the wall of the casing it is essential that it he lowered with a slow and uni- 4o form speed. In ordinary usage the driller nds it very difilcult to control the downward drop ofthe drill stem and the cutter thereon so thata successful cut may be made.

'In Fig. 16 I have shown a means by which low- 45 ering of the drill stem may be accurately controlled. The upper end of the drill stem is secured to the usual kelly joint |I3 which is suspended in the usual manner from the traveling block III which is suspended by the '-cable ||5 550 from'the crown block I0 of the derrick. ,The line from these blocks is carried down around the hoisting drum IIB adjacent the derrick platform. 'Ihis drum is equipped with a brake band |1 controlled by the brake handle IIB. 55

When the drill is to. be lowered the driller ordinarily loosens upon the brake lever and allows some of the cable to unreel, but in doing so the weight placed upon the milling cutter is not uniform and good results are not obtained.. I se- 60 cure to the drilling line Ill by means of a clamp il! an auxiliary cable |10 which is wound about a'small auxiliary drum Ill. I control the movement of the drum |2| so as to allow the cable |20 and the cable IIS to unreel uniformly. In .65*

accomplishing this I form a worm wheel |22 upon the shaft of the drum |21. 'This worm wheel engages with the worm |20 upon .a shaft |24. 'Ihis shaft has on its end adjacent the rotary table |25 a star wheel |28, the construction of 70 which is shown in Fig. 18. The pointsof this star wheel are enaed by a laterally extending pin |21 on the rotary table with each revolution of the rotary. I may by varying the number of teeth on the star wheel vary the speed with lpractically automatic leaving the driller free to handle the drilling apparatus without necessity of attempting to control the uniform lowering of the cutter. y

' It will be understood that the various improvements set out herein enable the operator to more successfully cement and anchor devices in the well and toperform the operations of side track ing through the casing at any desired level in the Well.

What is' claimed as new is: Y 1. A cylindrical housing, an inclined whipstock in said housing, a lower cylindrical head on said whipstock, a packer on said head and means responsive to the tlow of iluid past said whipstock to move said whipstock, set said packer and anchor same in the well casing.

.2. A cylindrical housing, a whipstock therein means to seal said chamber when said whipstock is in said housing, means to secure said whipstock in said housing releasable in response to fluid circulation, and anchor dogs adapted to be expanded to anchor said whipstock when said whipstock is moved out of said housing.

4. A cylindrical housing, an inclined whipstock in said housing, a lower cylindrical head on said whipstock, a packer on said head and means responsive to the now of fluid past said whipstock tomove said whipstock downwardly out of said housing, an anchor on said head, means automatically to engage'said anchor with the well casing when said head is moved from said housing, the pressure of said fluid acting to set said packer.

s. A cynndncal housing, a whipstock therein,

including a head, means to secure said whipstock in said housing releasabie in response to the tiow of uid in-said housing, a cement chamber in said head, means to close said chnamber opening by the relative ,downward movement of said whipstock in said housing. and an anchor on said head below said chamber operative when said whipstcok is moved free of said housing.

6. A whipstock including a head, an anchor operableV t'o engage within the joint of a casing, and means todischarge cement about said head to fix the same in said casing responsive to the now of uid downwardly in said casing.`

` 7. A whipstock including a head, an anchor operable to engage within the Joint of a casing, means to hold said anchor in inoperative position releasable by relative downward movement of said anchor, and means to discharge cement about said head to fix the same in said casing responsive to the fiow of iiuid downwardly in said casing'. l

8. In combination, a whipstock, lmeans providing`a chamber adapted to be lowered inl a bore hole with the whipstock while containing cement, and means controllable from thesurface after said whipstock is located in a xed position within the hole for eiecting discharge of the cement from the chamber to secure the whipstock within the hole.

9. In combination, a whipstock, means providing a chamber adapted to be lowered in a bore hole with the whipstock while containing cement, means for retaining the cement within said chamber during the lowering operation. and means controllable from the surface after said whipstock is located in a xed position within the hole for effecting discharge of the cement from the chamber to secure the whipstock within the hole.

l0. In combination, a whipstock, means for anchoring the whipstock at a Joint of a casing, means providing a chamber adapted to be lowered in the casing with the whipstock while containing cement, and means for effecting discharge of the cement from the chamber while the vwhipstock is anchored to thereby tix the whipstock 40,

within the casing.

r11. In combination, a whipstock, means for anchoring the whipstock at a Joint of a casing, means providing a chamber adapted to retain whipstock, and means for effecting discharge of the cement from the chamber while the whipstock vis anchored to thereby tlx the whipstock within the casing.

temporarily a charge of cement adjacent said '45 12. In combination, a whipstock, means pro- 50 viding a chamber adapted to retain temporarily a charge of cement adjacent said whipstock, and means controllable from the surface for effecting discharge of the c'ement from the chamber while the whipstock is located within a bore hole to 55 thereby x the whipstock within the hole.

MONROE W. CARROLL. 

